Enhanced Voice User Interface Experience via Preview Services on an External Assistance Channel

1. A network device, comprising: at least one processor; a network interface; a storage device coupled to the at least one processor; and software instructions stored in the storage device, wherein execution of the software instructions by the at least one processor configures the network device as a server to perform: receiving an indication of a product from a Voice User Interface (VUI) server, wherein the VUI server receives the indication of the product from a first user device via a first communications channel provided by the network device; receiving a designation of a second user device to receive at least one image of the indicated product via a second communications channel, the designation being based on a previously established permission for the second user device to receive product information based on product indications from the first user device; accessing the at least one image of the indicated product; establishing the second communications channel between the network device and the second user device in accordance with an eligibility of a user of the first user device; and providing, in accordance with the eligibility, the at least one image of the indicated product to the second user device via the second communications channel for display to the user.

2. The network device of claim 1, wherein the accessing comprises contacting a third-party source containing information about the indicated product.

3. The network device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor configures the network device as a server to further perform: receiving a designation of a third user device to receive information of the indicated product via a third communications channel, the designation being based on a previously established permission for the third user device to receive product information based on product indications from the first user device, wherein execution of the software instructions by the at least one processor configures the network device to perform: establishing the third communications channel with the third user device; and providing the information to the third user device via the third communications channel.

4. The network device of claim 1, wherein the second user device comprises a television.

5. The network device of claim 1, wherein the second communications channel conveys the at least one image of the product to the second user device via at least one email.

6. The network device of claim 1, wherein the second communications channel conveys the at least one image of the product to the second user device via a Short Message Service (SMS) message.

7. The network device of claim 1, wherein the receiving, accessing, establishing and providing are performed by a single entity.

8. A method for providing product information to a user of a first user device, comprising: receiving an indication of a product from a Voice User Interface (VUI) server, wherein the VUI server receives the indication of the product from the first user device via a first communications channel; receiving a designation of a second user device to receive at least one image of the indicated product via a second communications channel, the designation being based on a permission previously established for the second user device to receive the at least one image of the product based on the product indication from the first user device; accessing the at least one image of the indicated product; establishing the second communications channel, via which to provide the at least one image of the indicated product to the second user device, in accordance with an eligibility of the user of the first user device; and providing, in accordance with the eligibility, the at least one image of the indicated product to the second user device via the second communications channel for display to the user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the accessing comprises contacting a third-party source containing information about the indicated product.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving a designation of a third user device to receive information of the indicated product via a third communications channel, the designation being based on a permission established according to the eligibility of the user, for the third user device to receive product information based on product indications from the first user device; establishing the third communications channel with the third user device; and providing the information to the third user device via the third communications channel.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the second user device comprises a television.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the second communications channel conveys the at least one image of the product to the second user device via at least one email.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the second communications channel conveys the at least one image of the product to the second user device via a Short Message Service (SMS) message.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the receiving, accessing, establishing and providing are performed by a single entity.

15. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the processor to perform operations that comprise: receiving an indication of a product from a Voice User Interface (VUI) server, wherein the VUI server receives the indication of the product from a first user device via a first communications channel; receiving a designation of a second user device to receive product information pertaining to the indicated product via a second communications channel, the designation being based on a previously established permission for the second user device to receive product information based on product indications from the first user device; accessing the product information pertaining to the indicated product, wherein the accessing comprises contacting a third-party source of information about the indicated product; establishing a second communications channel, via which to provide the product information pertaining to the indicated product to the second user device, in accordance with an eligibility of a user of the first user device; and providing, in accordance with the eligibility, the product information pertaining to the indicated product to the second user device via the second communications channel for presentation to the user.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the accessing comprises contacting a third-party source containing information about the indicated product.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise: receiving a designation of a third user device to receive the product information pertaining to the indicated product via a third communications channel; establishing the third communications channel with the third user device; and providing the product information pertaining to the indicated product to the third user device via the third communications channel for presentation via the third user device.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the receiving, accessing, establishing and providing are performed by a single entity.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the second communications channel conveys the at least one image of the product to the second user device via at least one email.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the second communications channel conveys the at least one image of the product to the second user device via a Short Message Service (SMS) message.